LIVE: RANDOLPH SWAIN AND THE RED LIGHTS – 26/09/2015
Randolph Swain at Millstone Rocks 2015. Photo credit: Facebook – THE CASTLE HOTEL, MANCHESTER – I like it when the stars align the right way. I mean, is it a coincidence that Randolph Swain and The Red Lights almost sing to the latest ‘Blood Moon’? Don’t think so. I want to believe. The truth, in this case, is inside The Castle Hotel in Manchester. Another gig, another planet. Literally. “You could be in any other place tonight, but for some reason you’re... Read More
Album Review: Kurt Vile – b’lieve i’m goin down…
Within the first 30 seconds of b’lieve I’m goin down… we are once again fully acquainted with the languid, finger-pickin-on-the-ranch, meandering tendencies of Philadelphia’s Kurt Vile. After a brief spell as member of The War on Drugs, he has been releasing solo albums for seven years, peaking commercially with 2011’s Smoke Ring for My Halo and 2013’s Wakin on a Pretty Daze. Both of those records honed his craft and streamlined his style, airbrushing out the wilder,... Read More
PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING JOIN PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY BEAT BACK GIG
PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY BEAT BACK GIG Super Furry Animals, Charlotte Church and now Public Service Broadcasting to join thousands of others in protest to disrupt the Tory Party Conference. As part of a jammed packed week of protests, public meetings, direct action, theatre, music and comedy at Manchester Academy on October 5th 8pm. Some of the artists and organisers had this to say about the gig: “I profoundly disagree with so many of this government’s policies – attacking... Read More
LIVE: BLANCK MASS – 24/09/2015
Blanck Mass – THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – Blanck Mass is in a good mood tonight. He takes to the Deaf Institute stage to the sound of the hulking main sample of ‘Loam’, the opening track of this year’s stunning album Dumb Flesh. It’s stretched out to hypnotic length, a powerful, throbbing sound that fills the room such that when it breaks down into the glitchy, stuttering noise of the outro it’s almost disorientating. This blurs into... Read More
The Silent Radio Show 26/09/2015
A weekly audible version of the North’s best independent music website, SilentRadio.co.uk. Featuring the bands and acts gracing our hand-picked gig guide and hitting the Silent Radio headlines. We managed to cram 20 songs into this week’s playlist as we enter another week packed full of great tours. TRACK LISTING Sweet Baboo – Tonight You Are A Tiger / Prom – Touch Me / Lady Lamb – Batter / Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind –... Read More
INTERVIEW: FRUIT BOMB
Fruit Bomb Last night, Fruit Bomb, Fallowfield’s very own Garage Pop band, were picked by The Skinny to play alongside Menace Beach, Weirds and False Advertising. This is just part of the recent acclaim the band has started to receive – they have just streamed their first single ‘Goin Home’ on the NME. This hype might well see them escape the walls of their beloved Fallow Cafe, where they spend most of their time, even if you’d have to drag them out. Read... Read More
LOUDER THAN WORDS RETURNS FOR ITS THIRD YEAR
Louder Than Words Now in its third year, Louder Than Words festival of music and writing grows louder each year. Over the last two years the festival has welcomed music characters such as Jah Wobble (PiL), Tim Burgess (The Charlatans), Viv Albertine (The Slits) Hugh Cornwell (The Stranglers), Guy Garvey (Elbow) and Edwyn Collins to Manchester, talking all things musical and literary. Attendees have travelled from as far as San Francisco and Moscow to engage in a weekend that... Read More
LIVE: SLEAFORD MODS / STEVE IGNORANT’S SLICE OF LIFE – 23/09/2015
Steve Ignorant’s Slice Of Life – THE RITZ, MANCHESTER – So, why after two years (-1 day) have I decided to dust off my writing pad and make the time to review tonight’s gig? The simple answer, Sleaford Mods have excited me more than any other band in the last twenty plus years. As it happens, tonight’s support comes from Steve Ignorant’s Slice of Life, Ignorant (who’s far from his moniker) was the frontman of a band that excited me thirty plus years... Read More
LIVE: RAT BOY / FLESH – 21/09/2015
Rat Boy – THE RUBY LOUNGE, MANCHESTER – As I arrive at The Ruby Lounge, I’m given a golden wristband as well as the standard stamp on the hand. I think nothing of it. I go down to the bar and get ID’d; “I know you’ve got a wristband, but we still have to check” says the barmaid without prompt. It isn’t until I turn around to check out tonight’s audience that I realise why there are such strict measures in place. The Ruby Lounge... Read More
SLEAFORD MODS FILM ‘INVISIBLE BRITAIN’
Invisible Britain Sleaford Mods – Invisible Britain, part band doc, part look at the state of the nation, follows the band on their recent tour of the UK and visits places which probably don’t even exist in the minds of many – the neglected, broken down and boarded up parts of the country that most would prefer to ignore. Taking its cue from the likes of Patrick Keiller’s Robinson Trilogy, the wanderings of Iain Sinclair, and J.G. Ballard’s comment “The future is just... Read More
